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I'm Sailing Away- Columbia River - Heart of the Gorge

I’m Sailing Away- Columbia River – Heart of the Gorge

The expression “Happiness comes the way the wind blows”, certainly did apply on our sailing adventure! Loved the feeling of the wind blowing softly on my face, feel of water spraying on me as we sailed off into the Heart of the Gorge on the Columbia River at sunset. While we had visited Portland, Oregon several times before, we had never taken any kind of boat on the Columbia River. After over a…

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My dream trip to the airport

My dream trip to the airport

Every morning I have been waking up feeling extremely tired, almost like I have jet lag? Sitting up in my bed I realize I’m not at the airport, but in my own bed at home instead. All night long in my dreams I have been lugging a suitcase, filled with way too many clothes I will never wear on vacation, on my way to the airport for my trip. Every trip I take I tell myself next time I will pack…

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my experience with getting the vaccine

Let the Adventure Begin, now that I have my vaccine!

Not wanting to waste any time or taking a chance of getting the nasty covid virus, I booked my appointment to get the vaccine as soon as the State of Florida allowed me too! Every State in the United States has had different requirements of eligibility for the vaccine. Nothing has been uniform in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, with every State have different lock-down…

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Life hands you lemons, play at casino gambling

My Staycation, Playcation!

When life hands you lemons, keep pulling the lever, like my statue says! Watching many advertisements on Tv, I decided to take a gamble on having fun at the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. Being in the confines of a dark casino, with no clock, mesmerized by the slot machine whirling around and hoping to hit the big ONE it is a great way to forget you have been confined to home for so long. While I’m…

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Feeling a bit normal, attending sporting event

Feeling a bit normal, attending sporting event

Some days it feels like a race to the finish line while we are waiting on getting the vaccine. While the vaccine is not a cure all, and approximately a third of the US population will not trust science enough to get the vaccine, life will not return to some sense of normalcy until the vaccine becomes widespread. It has been over a year since this nasty virus has taken over the world, halted many…

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Against Doctors orders I joined the gym

Against Doctors orders I joined the gym

First time ever I have heard a doctor’s office not wanting you to go to the gym, but I outweighed the fact that I am gaining weight, depressed and bored over catching the nasty covid virus. Mind you this is the same doctor who told me the last time I reached my WW (Weight Watchers) goal that I was looking too puny? Then, I had a long way to go before I would be considered anorexia, as I was only…

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WW (formerly weight Watchers) really works

WW (formerly weight Watchers) really works

Wow!!! Where has time gone. The photo in 2012 was taken at an all inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico. Having no restraints, I couldn’t make up my mind on which dessert to choose, so I skipped lunch and ate one of every dessert at the buffet. Not to mention all the sugary, alcoholic drinks I consumed afterwards. Just thinking about it today makes me cringe, because eating even one dessert today…

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Good bye 2020/hello 2021 with new normal

Good bye 2020/hello 2021 with new normal

What a year 2020 has turned out to be? Two things I’m very passionate about are traveling & live music, both have been almost non existent this year due to the pandemic caused by the Corona Virus. Part of me feels like a year of my life has been lost, but I have found another side to me that I didn’t know existed too. What is the other side of me? I really have not totally discovered yet, but I’m…

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Adopted loggerhead sea turtle nest

Adopted loggerhead sea turtle nest

Living close to the beach and being quarantined at home, I have taken a real interest in learning more about my surroundings! What better way to learn about Sea turtles than adopting a nest. Not only does it help with conservation, but provides necessary funds desperately needed right now for further conservation. (link below to adopt a nest in my area)

Upon adopting the nest I was sent…

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Reflections of 2020

Many years from now when I look back on 2020, as I am sitting in my rocking chair, how will I remember this year? Will it even be a year I want to remember? Are my golden years slipping away? One thing I have learned this year is to appreciate waking to the sun rising every morning, being thankful for what I have and the simple things in life. Life can change suddenly, as we have learned this…

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Many tourists flock to the crowded portion of Flagler Ave at Beachfront Park, New Smyrna Beach, and pay to park.  They don’t realize if they were to drive about three miles further South awaiting them would be a picturesque, traffic free beach.  Bethune Beach is a spot many locals know to go to escape the crowds. In the picture above, this couple was having a romantic moment waiting for the sun to rise over the Atlantic Ocean and enjoying the peaceful, solitude of nature while social distancing!

Sadly, Bethune Beach was the only place in the early 20th Century that African Americans were permitted to use freely to enjoy swimming and other beach activities. The beach was named after Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and founder of Bethune Cookman College, located in Daytona Beach.   Her dream was for this portion of the beach to remain free for all to enjoy.  Today, there are still many free amenities like bathrooms, children’s playground, picnic area, free partially paved parking, boardwalk,  barbecue grills, basketball court, and a beautiful beach.  This portion of the beach still remains a traffic free beach and safe haven for children to play too!

If you decide to venture on foot further South, about a mile down the beach after the homes/condos, you will experience the beach as it was many years before tourism and commercial developments took over.  You can walk down there from Bethune to Canaveral National Seashore without paying. Luckily, the Canaveral National Seashore preserved many acres of land and beach for all to enjoy for a nominal fee.

So, next time you decide to visit New Smyrna Beach, Florida, you have to decide if you want to view the natural wildlife, or the “wildlife” throngs of people off Flagler Ave. Personally, I would choose to escape the noise of humans and replace it with the sound of seagulls soaring, and waves hitting the shoreline at Bethune Beach.

More info at link below

https://visitnsbfl.com/outdoors/beaches/bethune-beach

    Bethune Beach – Free for all in New Smyrna Beach, Florida- Local Hangout Many tourists flock to the crowded portion of Flagler Ave at Beachfront Park, New Smyrna Beach, and pay to park. 

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My Favorite Summer Read of the Season! Since I’m not able or willing to risk traveling right now I’m reading “Stories” It was written by Alvaro Rojas “From my travels to every country in the world.”

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"You are So Lucky"

“You are So Lucky”

If I had a dime for every time I heard “You are so Lucky”  “You Win Everything” , I wouldn’t have to work so hard to enter or win contests.  I still consider sweepstakes a hobby that I love to work at to win. What do I like to win?  I mainly enter to win trips or experiences that create lasting memories. Right now with Covid-19, many sponsors are not offering trips at this time, however, they are…

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Life's U-Turn - Finding My New Norm during Covid-19

Life’s U-Turn – Finding My New Norm during Covid-19

This year moving to New Smyrna Beach, my life hasn’t quite turned out the way I planned, but I’m “Slowly” adapting to my new norm.   Only one problem, I haven’t figured out what my new norm is yet or what I want to do? With these uncertain times I think everyone is trying to find their comfort zone and learn to live with the threat of Covid-19 looming.  At times I feel it may just be better to go…

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New Normal - Quarantine - Masks

New Normal – Quarantine – Masks

While in quarantine I had plans of getting a lot of things done on my to do list, so when we get back to normal life I can do more of the things I love.  Having time now is not an issue since I’m mostly confined to home, but I have only managed to accomplish a few things on my list of to do.  Recently, I upgraded my iPad to a newer model to read books on the plane, play games, watch videos and…

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I'm Not Normal - Fibromyalgia

I’m Not Normal – Fibromyalgia

Sitting in the doctor’s office and hearing the doctor say to me “You Are Not Normal” was a real wake up call.  Whose body is normal and follows all the medical guidelines?  The only good thing he did say to me was “Listen to your Body”.  I still follow that advice today.   After many extensive blood work tests this same doctor determined I had inherited the family genetics of Rheumatoid…

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Are We There Yet? Sunrise & Another Day of Covid-19 Pandemic

Remember as a child riding in the backseat of the car asking your parent while on a long trip, “Are we there yet”? Now we are asking our leaders, CDC and the media “Are we there yet”? Glued to our TV sets for the next tidbit on any hope of this pandemic ending. Asking ourselves when will this Covid-19 pandemic end globally?

Are we there yet?  Who has the right answer? When will we be released…

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